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Mazda is gearing up for the launch of its first all-electric car, which is due in 2020. Although the car won’t look dramatically different from all of the current Mazda models, the Japanese company said that the coming all-electric car will be a standalone model and it won’t be a part of its collaboration with fellow Japanese automaker Toyota.

Apparently, Mazda has been working on this EV even before its tie-up with Toyota was finalized. Ironically, the partnership created by these two giants in the auto industry is to jointly develop EVs.

Because this will be a standalone model, Mazda’s first EV will not simply be an electric version of an already existing model. Other than this little but all-important tidbit, we don’t have any information about what kind of configuration or exterior detailing this first Mazda EV will arrive with.

When it comes to its body style, we can do a bit of imagining and rendering. There’s no reason why Mazda will divert from what it has seemingly specialized in the past—a high-riding crossover. This will effectively take advantage of the popularity of this segment right now. Aside from that, taller vehicles will allow more space for the easier packaging of the battery modules while still maintaining good cabin size for the passengers.

Mazda, however, has always been a carmaker that sets the trends rather than the one that follows them. This means the first EV might not be a crossover or an SUV. It may be like just another model off Mazda’s factories, albeit with a battery pack.

According to a report from Autocar, Ikuo Maeda, Mazda’s design chief, doesn’t want the upcoming EV “to look digital” while its European design boss said they “don’t want to make an EV to look like a fridge like some other car makers.” This means the new EV will not stick out like a sore thumb and it will be styled like all the other cars in the Mazda range.

Want a bit more to imagine? Mazda’s design language can be seen in its latest iteration of the Mazda 3 hatch and sedan. If the new EV will look anything like the Mazda 3, then our expectations have just been boosted.

Jaguar may be transforming into a fully-electric luxury brand in the near future. It is believed that Jaguar’s bosses are drafting an outline strategy which would phase out the gasoline-powered vehicles from the Jag’s lineup within the next decade. The conventional vehicle range might be phased out in five to seven years and will be fully replaced by electric vehicles.

Publicly, Jaguar has already stated that all new models it will launch starting in 2020 will offer some sort of hybrid powertrain. Still, a move to sell exclusively battery- or electric-powered vehicles is a big leap.

It is believed that the new Jaguar I-Pace, which is a pure-electric crossover, is just the first step to revamp Jag’s whole lineup. Under the plans being considered, the next vehicle from Jaguar would be a full-on luxury electric saloon that will replace the XJ. That will come within the next two years and will direct compete with Porsche’s upcoming Taycan and Tesla Model S.

The next vehicle will be a second electric crossover but slightly larger than the I-Pace. The plan is for it to replace the Jaguar XE and XF sedans once they reached the end of their life cycles, which is around 2023. After that, there will be a second-generation I-Pace while the current E-Pace and F-Pace crossovers will be discontinued. Jaguar’s F-Type sports car could also be phased out and replaced by an electric sports car.

Based on this, Jaguar’s lineup will be fully electric by 2026 except for the upcoming three-row J-Pace crossover.

According to early estimates, a four- or five-model all-electric Jaguar lineup can sell as many as 300,000 units a year. The company will benefit from the higher retail prices of a trend that sees the luxury vehicle market switching to electric and battery power.

While this might sound like a big risk for Jaguar, we must remember that the company has done much of the engineering legwork to make this possible. Thanks to the I-Pace, they now have technology developed for many components of an electric car, including electric motors, platforms, and battery packs that can be used on a variety of models.

The next Mercedes-Benz GLE plug-in hybrid will have a huge improvement over the 2018 GLE 550e plug-in that only produces 10 miles of electric driving. The new plug-in hybrid is rated with 62 miles of electric range, according to a WLTP test cycle.

Ola Kallenius, head of Daimler group research and Mercedes-Benz cars development and Daimler’s next CEO, told in an interview that the plug-in hybrid is scheduled to be launched in the second half of next year.

It remains unclear if the GLE PHEV will only be launched exclusively in Europe initially but we’re pretty sure that the United States will have to wait for a few more months before getting their hands on the vehicle.

There are also no indications yet of what engine will be paired with the existing electric motor. Most plug-in hybrids come with a four-cylinder gasoline engine, but Kallenius said it’s possible we might even see a diesel powertrain. Things will be very different for the US market, though, which will quite possibly see a wider range of engine options.

An issue that may crop up, however, is the validity of the WLTP test cycle. In most cases, the WLTP testing correlates closely with the EPA test results but there are some instances where these two have butt heads. The Chevrolet Bolt is rated at 240 miles by the WLTP but only 238 miles by the EPA. The Hyundai Kona got a 292-mile range rating from WLTP but the EPA only rated it for 250 miles.

This means we cannot be too sure about the GLE plug-in hybrid’s numbers. The US market, specifically, may want to wait for the EPA results, though the WLTP figures still represent a huge advancement for plug-in hybrid vehicles, a vast majority of which don’t go as far as 62 miles on electric power alone.

Nissan is currently working on a new electric sport utility vehicle. The company is aiming to offer it to customers around the $45,000 range.

Clean Technica claimed that the information came from a “highly credible and well-informed source”. The report said that Nissan is targeting a 220-mile range for their upcoming electric SUV. If it comes into fruition, the cost of the auto will be at par with the offerings of premium brands such as the $43,570 Lexus RX, $41,500 Audi Q5, $43,645 BMW X3, $40,050 Mercedes-Benz GLC, and others.

Given those facts, the product might belong to the premium segment of the Nissan Group. It is possible that the electric SUV will fall under the Infiniti brand. On the other hand, it could also be that the group is looking to keep the vehicle on its Nissan brand in order for them to build up a reputation in the electric SUV segment of the market.

Right now, the only electric vehicle available on the Nissan brand is the Nissan Leaf with a starting price of $22,490. It is the best-selling electric vehicle in the European market during the first eight months of 2018. In some parts of Europe like Norway, it has become the top-selling passenger car too.

Given the momentum of Nissan with the Leaf, they are probably looking to follow it up so that they could keep a strong hold of the EV market. Since the Leaf is considered as the company’s top electric car as of the moment, their upcoming electric SUV might get the top spot in the hierarchy of their large passenger vehicles as well.

The upcoming Kia Soul EV is expected to average at least 250 miles on a single charge. A prototype for the car has been spotted testing once more at the Nurburgring track where it now wears significantly less camouflage, revealing a shape that is similar to the Kia Soul prototypes we have seen.

On the infotainment display, the Soul EV showed that it has a charge of 92 percent and an estimated range of 437 kilometers or about 271 miles. That keeps up with the European range estimate for the Hyundai Kona Electric, which was 292 miles. It’s not sure if the same range will be carried over to the US version of the car but since the Kona was rated only for 258 miles by the EPA, we expect the same figures for the Soul EV.

There’s no information yet on how much power the Soul EV is going to produce but based on the range, it looks like the upcoming EV is getting the same 201-horsepower electric motor that’s in the Kona and the Niro EV.

On the outside, the Soul EV has a boxy shape, boomerang-shaped taillights, and full-width headlights of the gasoline models. There are a couple of differences between the gas-engine Soul and the Soul EV such as the lower light pods possibly reserved for accent lighting, turn signals, or fog lights and the small opening at the bottom (instead of the large lower grille on the gas models).

The spy photos also showed the car’s interior, which is almost similar to the current model except for the revised infotainment system with a wider screen and buttons placed underneath. It also has a rotary knob for shifting while the instrument panel shows a speedometer and a dial. Inside, the door panels have metallic trim with patterns.

We are finally seeing the 2019 Audi e-Tron crossover SUV and it’s not exactly cheap. The entry-level Premium Plus model starts at $75,795 while the Prestige trim brings the price to $82,795. Finally, the top-rung First Edition model has a base price of $87,695.

After the camouflage has been taken off, we can now see that the e-Tron, which was revealed in bare-painted sheetmetal, looks like a mix of the flagship Q8 and the smaller Q3. It has the chiseled features of the Q3 and the taillights of the Q8.

Let us focus on the powertrain that undermines all these design languages though. The e-Tron crossover uses two electric motors: one large for the rear and a small one for the front wheels. According to Audi, this dual-motor setup can produce 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque in normal mode. This output can be produced for 60 seconds straight.

To bring the power to 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque, owners can switch on the overboost function for eight seconds. This output will allow the car to go 60 mph in 5.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 124 mph.

Depending on the load, the e-Tron can be driven using only the rear motor. The motor on the front wheels will be activated only if more power is needed and when the driving conditions require more traction.

With an optional towing package, this crossover SUV can also handle the hauling of 4,000 pounds worth of cargo.

Between the motors is where you could access the 95-kWh battery pack. There’s no final EPA rating yet but we’re inclined to believe that it can reach a total of 248 miles on a single charge. Audi says the E-Tron will also support 150-kW DC fast charging, which will allow it to regain 80 percent of its range in 30 minutes.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC is out as its maker just unveiled the electric crossover in its EQC400 4MATIC guise. The launch of the first fully-electric vehicle from the Mercedes EQ sub-brand happened on September 4, 2018, in Stockholm, Germany.

According to Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC will go on sale in the US in 2020. So what makes it very special? Here’s a rundown of the key features of the EQC EV:

Powertrain

The Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC is powered by two asynchronous electric motors. The units have a combined output of 402 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque going to all four wheels. The top speed of the EV is electronically limited to 112 mph, and it can accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.

The EQC400 4MATIC has an electric range of 200 miles at full charge. That’s 100 miles less than the promised range of its concept.

The lithium-ion battery of the EV can store up to 80 kWh. Using a DC fast charger, Mercedes claimed that it only takes 40 minutes to juice up the power of the battery pack from 10 to 80 percent.

Styling

The Mercedes-Benz EQC is classified as a crossover SUV. Shades of the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLC Coupe can be seen in its design. However, the new EV adopts the new “Progressive Luxury” design language of its maker, which has cleaner and smoother surfaces with well-sculpted panels that are free of the sharp body lines present in the current Mercedes SUVs.

The electric crossover gets rid of the typical roof rails found in modern SUVs in order to maintain its clean look. Meanwhile, going around the vehicle reveals a coupe-like ridge on its roofing that certainly adds to its appeal.

Moreover, the EQC introduces an LED band on top of its radiator grille that also bridges the DRLs and the LED headlamps. A red LED strip running across the liftgate and connecting the taillights can be found on its rear too.

Further adding to its beauty is the set of wheels with blue spokes and rims. The wheels are available in sizes ranging from 19 to 21 inches.

Interior and Tech

The interior of the Mercedes-Benz EQC mirrors the same level of luxury and tech found in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan. Rose gold accents adorn the cabin of the auto while its comfort elements are boosted by its heated leather seats.

The main attraction in the EQC is its twin digital displays. Each screen measures 10.25 inches and joined by a single glass cover. The infotainment system of the EV uses the Mercedes-Benz User Experience or MBUX interface.

In a nutshell, MBUX functions like Siri or Alexa. It carries an artificial intelligence that can recognize and process voice commands. It takes note of the preferences of its user too.

Mercedes-Benz EQC Photos

Feast your eyes on the official photos of the Mercedes-Benz EQC in the gallery below:

Mercedes-Benz is set to unveil its highly-anticipated Mercedes-Benz EQC all-electric car in a grand event in Stockholm at 6PM UK time on Tuesday. Though it won’t go on sale until next year, the German automaker is hoping to wow the industry with its foray into the all-electric realm.

The EQC is a battery electric operated vehicle that signals the first model from EQ, Daimler-owned Mercedes’ new product and technology brand. The company has not released full images of the production version of the vehicle ahead of the launch. There are a number of concepts released in the past and several teaser images that led us to believe this is a medium-sized SUV with coupe-like styling.

Mercedes first unveiled the EQC all-electric car as a concept in a technology forum at the Paris motor show almost two years ago. Back then, the German brand said that the EQC will feature a 70kWh lithium-ion battery pack that provides a range in excess of 300 miles.

As with electric cars, the competition begins from the range capacity. The EQC with its 300-mile-plus range would put it in the competition of Elon Musk’s Tesla.

In a teaser trailer, the EQC was shown to have a rear light signature that looks like a folded staple with the front one looking like a slightly open staple. The EQC seems to have borrowed elements from the GLC at the rear.

The side profile, on the other hand, looks like a large bulky SUV with a conventional shape that could make it a rival for cars like the Tesla Model X.

The car’s large proportions and the fact that the battery will be mounted on the floor will give it plenty of room in the cabin for at least five passengers. Based on the trailer, the interior will include the new MBUX display and infotainment system.

Mercedes-Benz has been very open about its plans to produce an electric vehicle and we might be seeing that in the upcoming EQ C electric crossover SUV. Spy photos showed that the electric crossover SUV has a glitzy concept, thanks in part to the interesting front fascia.

Until now, we haven’t seen a clear picture of the vehicle, but the latest spy shots showed the crossover SUV with less camouflage and body-hugging vinyl wrap.

The most interesting part about the vehicle is the front fascia, which is very different from the current styling that Mercedes-Benz does on its SUVs. The grille is upswept, unlike the frown-like shape of other recent Mercedes cars. The grille also extends all the way to the headlights, eliminating the need for a body-color section between them.

Speaking of the headlights, they are now reshaped and starts thin at the edges and sweeps downward toward the inside. It looks like the body panel will wrap around the bottom of the grille and will match the unique shape of the headlights. They will come with a contrasting color, possibly black, to put a rather unique spin to the car.

Interestingly, these are the same details shown during the unveiling of the car’s concept in 2016.

The rest of the EQ C electric crossover looks conventional and traditional. It has a profile that speaks of an internal-combustion, rear-drive car with a long nose and plenty of space between the front axle and the A-pillar. The lines on the car are smooth and curvy while the windows and the taillights would not be out of place on any other Mercedes vehicles.

The back end is quite rounded, though, almost looking like a bulbous Land Rover Velar tail. Capping the exterior design is the wheels, the design of which is based on the 2016 concept (but this one is simpler).

Inside, you’ll find the cabin wrapped in premium materials with elegance written all over it. The interior has giant dual screens for instruments and infotainment.

The Mercedes-Benz EQ C is scheduled to be on sale in 2020. Details about the powertrains remain vague for now, but it looks like it would have dual motors that produce 402 horsepower from all four wheels.

The 2020 Mini Electric spy shots revealed that the signature hardtop model will not have exhaust pipes and even a traditional grille. In some of the shots, you would notice that an accent light runs along the width of the grille. There’s also a new wheel pattern that Mini previewed during a teaser shot of the car released earlier this month.

The concept for this car was first previewed at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show and is only one of the 12 electric cars that the BMW Group plans to produce by 2025. For Mini, the first batch would include their signature hardtop model though visually, there are not many features that separate the electric version from the gasoline-powered models.

In terms of powertrains, Mini remains mum on specific features because the technology is rapidly evolving and there might be new ones available by next year. That being said, experts still expect to see a single electric motor at the front axle and batteries located beneath the rear seat. The range should be somewhere in the 200-mile figure or higher, depending on the EPA rating.

The engines will be manufactured from the same factories in Germany that produces the hardware for the BMW i3. The car, however, will be assembled at the Mini plants in the United Kingdom and China. For the production in China, Mini will tie up with local automaker Great Wall.

This is Mini’s turn to launch a production and volume EV. Thought the company was a pioneer of electric vehicles (it leased a hardtop-based Mini E electric car on a trial basis late last decade), its efforts have been overshadowed by the likes of Tesla Model 3.

After the launch of the electric hardtop version next year, the BMW Group should also unveil an iX3 SUV in 2020 and the iNext in 2021.

Check out the new spy shots of the Mini Electric from Motor Authority in the gallery below:

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